Afar, A Retrospective: Why Did I Bring a Teenager to Venice?

Unpacked by Afar

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

Hoping to recreate the same magical trip she took as a teen, author Emma John takes her friend’s 13-year-old daughter to Venice. But instead of awe, she’s filled with anxiety as she flies through a packed itinerary and struggles to impress her teenage companion. Will a reluctant teenager give into the wonders of the Floating City?

A Gondolier Wake Up Call

In this episode, discover:

• Ideas for a week-long trip to Venice, beyond hitting tourist hot spots.
• How to (and how not to) dress for a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica.
• What one traveler did to help a teenager fall in love with Venice.

“What Are We Going to Do Next?”

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:

[02:13] A midnight chase in the streets of Venice.

[05:38] Glass blowing at Murano, making Venetian masks and an otherwise packed itinerary.

[07:35] The unexpected views that led to a breakthrough.

Single in St. Mark’s Square

When Emma John was a teen, her mom’s single friend took her on a life-changing trip to Venice. An Afar contributing writer, and a traveler who is up for anything, Emma has written about country bluegrass, cricket and her most recent book is a memoir about singleness: Self-Contained: Scenes From a Single Life.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, she rediscovers the magic of Venice and learns a thing or two about travel itineraries and connections.

Resources

• Read Emma’s original story.

• Explore her other work.

• Check out Afar’s Venice travel guide.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.